ca. 1930. The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Washington State's oldest Catholic Church. Exterior view of old wooden Catholic Church with clapboard sides, squat belfry. The Church was built in 1855 at Fort Steilacoom and moved to its present site in 1864. It is on both the State and National Historic Registry.

Church of the Immaculate Conception (Steilacoom); Catholic churches--Steilacoom; Historic buildings--Steilacoom;

In June of 1927, Seattlite and frequent Tacoma visitor Esther Landstrom (in coat) was pictured with her new Willys-Knight 70-A coupe in front of the First Presbyterian Church at 20 Tacoma Avenue South. Her small dog stands on the running board. Her friend Dolly Wescott, a bookkeeper at Manley Motors, was at the wheel. Mrs. Landstrom had recently purchased her car from Manley Motor Company, 956-58 Fawcett Avenue, in Tacoma. Manley Motors were the authorized dealers of Overland, Willys-Knight, and Whippet automobiles. (TDL 6/19/1927, pg. G2) (WSHS)

Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Landstrom, Esther; Wescott, Dolly; Willys-Knight automobile; Dogs--Tacoma--1920-1930;

ca. 1937. Independent Bible Church, circa 1937. The pastor of the church was the Rev. Roy T. Brumbaugh. This new church was created when Rev. Brumbaugh split from the First Presbyterian Church. Four hundred and sixty-five members signed up with Dr. Brumbaugh to join the Independent Church. He typified his members as "fundamentalists" who opposed the organization of the Presbyterian Church. The Bible Church met at the Scottish Rite Temple, 5 So. G St., which it purchased in 1937. In 1943, the church dropped the Independent and became the Tacoma Bible Church. (filed with Argentum)

Independent Bible Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1926. Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, general view of exterior. Stone church by Heath and Gove, Architects. 1925. (filed with Argentum)

Baptist churches--Tacoma; Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma);

Federal Old Line Life Insurance Company banquet at First Presbyterian Church on September 12, 1939. Federal Old Line was formed by J.R. Cissna and licensed in the state of Washington in 1937. His vision was a company that paid off claims within 48 hours after death. (filed with Argentum)

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Presbyterian churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Federal Old Line Life Insurance Co. (Tacoma);

Funeral Group taken at Calvary Cemetery - Mrs. John S. Shaenes/Sharnes re John Sharnes, 1136 Cedar St., Raymond, Washington. (filed with Argentum)

Calvary Catholic Cemetery (Tacoma); Funeral rites & ceremonies;

ca. 1940. Zion Lutheran Church Golden Anniversary. People standing in front of altar, possibly choir. Building built as Zion German Evangelical Lutheran in 1908, H. Crosley, Architect.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Altars--Tacoma;

On April 18, 1941, Bobby Gosselin and John Comfort, students at St. Patrick's Parochial School, were putting the finishing touches on their entries in the 6th annual Rotary Club Hobby Show, to be held at the Winthrop Hotel April 26th. The boy at the left (probably Bobby Gosselin) was hard at work finishing a handcrafted chair. The boy at the right was using a wood lathe to make a wooden plate or tray. The contest was open to all Tacoma students 18 and under. Prizes were given in numerous hobby classifications, including model making, stamp collection, handicrafts and nature study. (T. Times 4/21/1941, pg. 2)

Church schools--Tacoma; St. Patrick's Parochial School (Tacoma); Rotary Club of Tacoma (Tacoma); Boys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gosselin, Bobby; Comfort, John;

Easter Sunday in 1939 at churches. The congregation of the First (Evangelical) Lutheran Church is photographed after services and shown mingling on the sidewalks and steps. 1930s automobiles on street. General view of building with corner steeple, by Heath and Gove, Architects; 1926. Construction of the massive tapestry brick with Tenino stone trim building commenced in late 1925 and was completed in early 1929. It had a large Scandinavian congregation. (T. Times)

Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Easter--Tacoma; Automobiles--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Easter Sunday at various Tacoma churches. Worshipers gather on the steps of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 602 South 34th St, on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. St. Joseph's was built by its congregation members and dedicated in May of 1912. It was the first Slovak Catholic church built in the Northwest.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Easter--Tacoma;

ca. 1938. First Methodist Church quartet. Group of four men and one woman. (filed with Argentum)

First Methodist Church (Tacoma); Protestant churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Methodist churches--Tacoma--1930-1940; Singers;

Elizabeth (Mrs. Melvin H. Jr.) Voorhees, left, and Mrs. Lawrence Worth admire antique silver and glassware at the home of Mrs. Edward Howell in April of 1937. Mrs. Voorhees was the chairman for the antique exhibit being held April 20, 1937 in the Stone Room of the First Presbyterian Church. The Circle B Planning Committee of the church was arranging the exhibit. Mrs. Howell was one of the exhibitors. Mel Voorhees was a wire editor at the Tacoma Times. (photograph also numbered T1038-1 and A4032-1) (Tacoma Times 4/19/1937, pg. 9)

Glassware; Teapots; Pitchers; Voorhees, Elizabeth; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

On a sunny Easter Sunday in 1939, three boys struggled with a potted lilly in front of the Central Baptist Church at 1201 So. J St. The boys were, left to right, solemn Gerald Larson, Gene Johnson balancing the plant and a huge grin and Peter Larson. A female parishioner, with corsage, watched from the background. The Gothic wooden church in the background was built in 1900 as the First Swedish Baptist Church. In 2005, it was named to the Tacoma Registry of Historic Places and is currently being restored. (T. Times 4/10/1939, pg. 3)

Central Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma; Easter--Tacoma; Larson, Gerald; Johnson, Gene; Larson, Peter;

Conference at the First Methodist Church. Registration. Several men gathered at table with adding machines and papers. Tacoma's First Methodist Church hosted the second annual Methodists Northwest conference from June 12- June 16, 1940. Bishop William E. Martin of Omaha presided. In 1939 two branches of the Methodist church in the Northwest, Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Methodist church united to become the Methodist Church. (T. Times 6-11-1940, p. 5-article; T.Times 6-13-1940, p. 1,24-article)

Methodist churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; First Methodist Church (Tacoma); Recording & registration--Tacoma--1940-1950;

First Methodist Church, general view of exterior. Heath and Gove, Architects; 1916. (T. Times, Special Edition) [Also dated February, 1940]

Methodist churches--Tacoma; First Methodist Church (Tacoma);

First Presbyterian Church ,general view of exterior. Cram and Ferguson with Sutton, Whitney and Dugan, Architects; 1920-24. (filed with Argentum)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma);

Interior of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church showing Reverend Harold H. Engelbrecht at altar. Building built as Zion German Evangelical Lutheran in 1908, H. Crosley, Architect. After 16 years at the pulpit, Rev. Engelbrecht was leaving Tacoma to join the staff at the Lutheran University in Indiana. He came to Tacoma in 1925, after five years with a church in Puyallup. He co-founded Concordia Lutheran School and served the school in its early years in many capacities. (T. Times 10/14/1941, pg. 18)

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Engelbrecht, Harold H.; Clergy--Tacoma--1940-1950;

50th Anniversary services and dinner at Asbury Methodist Church. Group of people singing. (T. Times)

Churches - Protestant Churches - Methodist Churches - Tacoma - Asbury Methodist Church

On the morning of September 2, 1941, guests wait outside of St. Patrick's Catholic Church for the newly wedded couple Anne Louise Greiwe and Lt. John William Winship to exit the church on their way to the reception at the bride's parents' home. The couple had been married that morning by the Rt. Rev. Monsignor William J. Noonan before 200 friends and family. A week later, September 9th, the McChord Douglas B-18 bomber that the bridegroom was co-piloting crashed into the side of Mount Constance on the Olympic Peninsula on a night training flight. Everyone on board was killed instantly. (T. Times 9/2/1941, pg. 7)

St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Greiwe, Anne Louise--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950;

St. Paul's Lutheran Church is celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. The church was organized on April 29, 1894. In fifty years St. Paul's has baptized 820 people, married 625 couples, confirmed 440 and had 585 funerals. Reverend Arthur Sydow has been St. Paul's pastor for the past 25 years (T. Times, 4/29/44, p. 7). TPL-10079

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Commemoration--Tacoma; Celebrations--Tacoma; Anniversaries--Tacoma; St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

The early Gothic facade of the First Congregational Church was built 1907-1908. It was designed by architect George W. Bullard and is of brick faced with Tenino sandstone. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor. [Also dated 04-18-1943]

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

The cornerstone for the Tudor First Congregational Church was laid September 5,1907 and the adjacent educational building was added in 1928. The buildings are of brick faced with Tenino sandstone.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

Wedding of Nadellia Weglin and Throne J. Eggan at Luther Memorial Church. Bridal party at altar. Rose window was a gift to the church from the architect Emanuel J. Bresemann and his siblings in memory of their mother, Bertha. The church was also known as St. John's English Lutheran Church.

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Weglin, Nadellia--Marriage; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Leaded glass windows--Tacoma;

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was having their annual pageant in January of 1947. The Queen is sitting at her throne and flanked by her court. Two boys are blowing their horns and calling attention to the newly crowned Queen. There were three Mormon churches during this time, one of which was the Reorganized Church.

Mormon churches--Tacoma; Evening gowns--Tacoma; Beauty contests--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mormons--Tacoma;

Bellarmine High School provided a Catholic education for boys. Father Henry J. Schultheis, S. J. was President of Bellarmine and Father J. C. Meckes, S. J. was Principal during this school year. View of Bellarmine High School students and teacher getting their class or club photo taken for the 1947 school yearbook, "The Cage". The photo was taken in the school library, a Bellarmine poster is on wall above books.

Priests--Tacoma; Students--Tacoma--1940-1950; Libraries--Tacoma; Bellarmine High School (Tacoma); Religious education--Tacoma;

Group at First Baptist Church, Times, Dick Yost. William Anderson, a student at Stewart Junior High School, right, is pointing to a strategic point on the map of Palestine in this February 24, 1948 photograph. Looking on are, L-R, Glen Coe, Inez Jackson, Director of Mason Junior High robed choir, Suzanne Haskin, Robert Gray Junior High and E.T. Munz, counselor, First Baptist Church junior high fellowship. The junior high school students were in charge of providing music and the message at the evening services at First Baptist this week. (T.Times, 2/28/1948, p.3)

First Baptist Church (Tacoma); Anderson, William; Coe, Glen; Jackson, Inez; Haskin, Suzanne; Baptist churches--Tacoma; Teenagers--1940-1950; Maps; Meetings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Cecil B. DeMille's "King of Kings" was presented at the Roxy (Pantages) Theater March 22 - 26, 1948. Admission was free as sponsored by the Tacoma Council of Churches. The theater was nearly filled for the showing of the film when this photograph was taken on the 26th. The Pantages was built as a vaudeville theater in 1917. Motion pictures replaced vaudeville shows and the name was changed to the RKO Orpheum in 1930 and changed again in 1932 when the new Roxy opened. The Pantages was rededicated after restoration in 1983. Ordered by, Council of Churches, Loyal Vickers. (TNT, 3/21/1948, p. A-12). TPL-1773

Roxy Theatre (Tacoma); Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Motion pictures; Motion picture audiences--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Glenna Ann Gaffney and James B. Dickson were married at St. Patrick's Catholic Church September 11, 1948. A white runner is lying on the carpet down the central aisle of the church where the bride and her attendants walked to the central altar. The bride can be seen on the left side of the altar, the priest is in the center and the groom is on the right. The bride was a graduate of St. Leo's and attended Seattle University. The groom attended Washington Technical Institute of Seattle. The interior of the church is lit by central chandeliers and side sconces. Columns rise into arches and rib-vaulted ceilings. (T.Times, 9/18/1948, p.10)

St. Patrick's Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Chandeliers; Altars--Tacoma; Arches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columns--Tacoma--1940-1950; Gaffney, Glenna Ann--Marriage; Dickson, James B.; Priests--Tacoma;

Making the first block for their new church, Church of Jesus Christ LDS. Members of the Mormon Church look proud of the first of many blocks they will be making to build their new church. Everyone, from young to old, is expected to play their part.

Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Church membership--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building materials;

The interior of the Unity Church of Tacoma. The congregation is listening to their pastor standing beside the podium that has been decorated with potted plants. Members of the congregation are seated on folding chairs so the space can be used for other purposes.

Unity Church of Tacoma (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma; Clergy--Tacoma--1950-1960;